2019 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet

Brakes grind, pulse or wear early

26owner reports
71,000median miles
2involved a crash

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

26 of the 191 complaints on this car describe brake wear.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026

2 crashesin 26 reports

Tick what matches of 26 reports

grinding or squealing

pulsing or shaking when braking

pedal goes soft or to the floor

pads or rotors replaced early

a brake warning light

the car did not stop in time

Brake wear on other Malibu years

201437 reports 2016102 reports 201771 reports 201869 reports 201926 reports 202049 reports

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015.

What this problem usually is

Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the booster (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the brakes covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Malibu

EA86-006opened Nov 27, 1985

Brakes · model years 1978 to 1981

Brake backing plate. Closed nov 28, 1988.

None of these investigations covers the 2019 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 62,000 and 87,370 miles, from the 10 reports that gave a mileage.

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu that deal with this problem. Newest first.

Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

Service bulletin21-NA-045Sep 2, 2022
This service bulletin informs dealers that a new Power Brake Booster Vacuum Cap will need to be replaced when installing the revised Power Brake Booster Vacuum Pipe to correct DTCs being set due to misrouting of brake booster vacuum pipe.
Service bulletin070316004DJan 10, 2022
This service bulletin provides information for tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system concerns.
Service bulletin19NA202Sep 5, 2019
This Technical bulletin provides a procedure to correct conditions of Service Stabilitrak Message on DIC, Rear Stop Lamps Inoperative, Traction Control Light On with DTCs C0595, C0277, U0422 Set.
Service bulletin16NA286Jul 18, 2019
This Bulletin provides information, tips and graphics regarding specific Hybrid vehicle hydraulic brake system failures, emphasizing disc brake caliper guide pin failures.

What owners wrote

“Due to the vacuum pump failing during driving, metal shards broke inside of the car and went into the engine destroying it completely. Now i need a whole new engine”
Filed Sep 16, 2026

“The brake booster vacuum pump went out in my car it broke which caused hard breaking while driving vehicle. When the brake booster vacuum pump broke a piece of it damage my camshaft as well as my timing chain in my motor.”
Filed Mar 18, 2026

“Brakes got hard and reduced engine power came on and now won't crank went to the dealership and then they charge me 389 for a battery and it still didn't work they say it need a new motor”
Filed Jun 7, 2025

“I have no Brake Lights when applying the Brakes and cruise control no longer works due to Service ESC message on display. I was advised by replacing the battery this would clear the ESC but it did not. I believe the service ESC message is tied into the brake lights and cruise control not working.”
Filed Nov 11, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 26 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found